Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 7: Karnataka has witnessed a worrying increase in suicide cases over the last four years, with 9,450 deaths reported between 2022 and November 2025, according to official home department data.

Family disputes, financial difficulties, unemployment, and post-Covid mental health issues have emerged as key reasons behind this alarming trend.

The data shows that young people constitute a significant proportion of victims, raising serious concerns about the social, economic, and psychological pressures affecting the state’s youth.

Urban areas have been particularly hard hit, with an average of around 2,000 suicides reported annually in cities, equating to nearly six to seven people dying by suicide each day.

Among the total reported cases, 8,148 people died by hanging, making it the most common method. Poison consumption accounted for 740 deaths, while 204 people died after jumping from tall buildings, with the remaining cases involving other methods.

A year-wise analysis highlights a steady rise in incidents: 2,313 suicides were reported in 2022, increasing to 2,370 in 2023 and 2,403 in 2024. Up to November 2025, 2,364 cases have already been recorded, nearly matching the previous year’s total.

Experts emphasise that the consistent rise underlines the urgent need to address mental health challenges, unemployment, financial instability, and family-related issues across the state. “The sustained increase in suicides calls for comprehensive measures to support the youth and other vulnerable sections of society,” they said.

The home department report also points to the critical importance of expanding mental health support services, financial counselling, employment initiatives and community awareness programmes, warning that unless these measures are implemented effectively, the trend could worsen further in the coming years.